John J. Pershing Papers A Finding Aid to the Collection in the Library of Congress Manuscript Division, Library of Congress Washington, D.C. 2013 Revised 2016 July Contact information: http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.mss/mss.contact Additional search options available at: http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.mss/eadmss.ms013112 LC Online Catalog record: http://lccn.loc.gov/mm79035949 Prepared by Manuscript Division Staff Revised by Joseph K. Brooks
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John J. Pershing Papers
A Finding Aid to the Collection in the Library of Congress
Manuscript Division, Library of CongressWashington, D.C.
Collection SummaryTitle: John J. Pershing PapersSpan Dates: 1882-1971Bulk Dates: (bulk 1904-1948)ID No.: MSS35949Creator: Pershing, John J. (John Joseph), 1860-1948Extent: 141,000 items ; 437 containers plus 5 oversize ; 180.6 linear feet ; 10 microfilm reelsLanguage: Collection material in EnglishLocation: Manuscript Division, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.Summary: Army officer. Correspondence, diaries, writings, notebooks, military records, printed matter, memorabilia, andother material documenting Pershing's military career, including as commander-in-chief of the American ExpeditionaryForces in World War I.
Selected Search TermsThe following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the Library's online catalog. They aregrouped by name of person or organization, by subject or location, and by occupation and listed alphabetically therein.
PeoplePershing family.Pershing, Helen F. (Helen Frances), 1880-1915. Helen F. Pershing correspondence and diaries.Pershing, John J. (John Joseph), 1860-1948.Pershing, John J. (John Joseph), 1860-1948. My experiences in the World War. 1931.
OrganizationsComisión Plebiscitaria de Tacna y Arica.United States Military Academy.United States. Army--History--Punitive Expedition into Mexico, 1916.United States. Army. American Expeditionary Forces.United States. War Department. General Staff.
SubjectsIndians of North America--Wars--West (U.S.)Russo-Japanese War, 1904-1905--China--Manchuria.Russo-Japanese War, 1904-1905--Japan.Spanish-American War, 1898--Campaigns--Cuba.Tacna-Arica question.World War, 1914-1918--Campaigns--France.World War, 1914-1918.
PlacesChile--Boundaries--Peru.Europe--Description and travel.Fort William McKinley (Philippines)Latin America--Description and travel.Mexico--History--Revolution, 1910-1920.Peru--Boundaries--Chile.Philippines--History--Philippine American War, 1899-1902.
OccupationsArmy officers.
John J. Pershing Papers 2
Administrative InformationProvenance
The papers of John J. Pershing, army officer, were a gift and deposit converted to a gift from John J. Pershing and his sonFrancis Warren Pershing, 1919-1976. Other gift, reproduction, purchase, and transfer were received 1934-1995.
Processing History
The Pershing Papers were arranged and described in 1957 and 1965. Additions were made between 1976 and 2005, and thefinding aid was revised in 1987 and 2013.
Additional Guides
A card index of the General Correspondence series is available in the Manuscript Division Reading Room.
Transfers
Items have been transferred from the Manuscript Division to other custodial divisions of the Library. Some photographs,posters, paintings, postcards and cartoons have been transferred to the Prints and Photographs Division. Some maps havebeen transferred to the Geography and Map Division. Sound recordings have been transferred to the Motion Picture,Broadcasting, and Recorded Sound Division. Printed volumes and broadsides have been transferred to the Rare Books andSpecial Collections Division. Books have been transferred to the General Collection. All transfers are identified in thesedivisions as part of the John J. Pershing Papers.
Copyright Status
Copyright in the unpublished writings of John J. Pershing in these papers and in other collections of papers in the custodyof the Library of Congress has been dedicated to the public.
Access and Restrictions
The papers of John J. Pershing are open to research. Researchers are advised to contact the Manuscript Reading Room priorto visiting. Many collections are stored off-site and advance notice is needed to retrieve these items for research use.
Microfilm
A microfilm edition of part of these papers is available on ten reels. Consult reference staff in the Manuscript Divisionconcerning availability for purchase or interlibrary loan. To promote preservation of the originals, researchers are requiredto consult the microfilm edition as available.
Online Content
Part of the papers of John J. Pershing are available on the Library of Congress Web site at http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.mss/collmss.ms000048.
Preferred Citation
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: Container or reel number, John J.Pershing Papers, Manuscript Division, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.
Biographical NoteDate Event1860, Sept. 13 Born, Laclede County, Mo.
1886 Graduated, United States Military Academy, West Point, N.Y., as senior cadet captain, the highesthonor conferred
1886-1890 Second lieutenant, 6th Cavalry; took part in New Mexico and Arizona Apache campaigns
1890-1891 Served in Sioux campaigns in South Dakota
1891-1895 Military instructor, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Neb.; promoted to first lieutenant
1896 In charge of roundup of Cree Indians who were deported to Canada
1897-1898 Instructor in tactics, United States Military Academy, West Point, N.Y.
1898 Served with 10th Cavalry, Santiago, Cuba; appointed chief officer of volunteers
1898-1899 Organized Bureau of Insular Affairs and was its chief until August 1899
1899-1903 Served in Philippine Islands
1901 Captain, 1st Cavalry; later transferred to 15th Cavalry in order to remain in Philippines
1903-1904 Resumed staff duty in Washington, D.C., and studied at Army War College
1903-1906 Member, general staff of the army
1905 Married Helen F. Warren (died 1915)
1905-1906 Military attaché, Tokyo, Japan; with Tamemoto Kuroki's army in Manchuria, Mar.-Sept. 1905
1906 Promoted from captain to brigadier general
1906-1908 Commander, Fort McKinley, Philippines
1909-1913 Governor, Moro Province, Philippines
1913 Took command of 8th Cavalry Brigade, Presidio, San Francisco, Calif.; ordered to El Paso, Tex.
1915 Death of wife and their three daughters when their home burned, Presidio, San Francisco, Calif.
1916-1917 Commanded troops sent to Mexico in pursuit of Pancho Villa
1917-1919 Commander-in-chief, American Expeditionary Forces
1919 Confirmed by Senate as general of the armies of the United States
1921-1924 Chief of staff, United States Army
1931 Published My Experiences in the World War. New York: Frederick A. Stokes Co.
1948, July 15 Died, Washington, D.C.
John J. Pershing Papers 4
Scope and Content NoteThe papers of John Joseph Pershing (1860-1948) span the years 1882-1971, with the bulk of the material concentrated inthe period 1904-1948. The collection consists of correspondence, diaries, notebooks, speeches, statements, writings, orders,maps, scrapbooks, newspaper clippings, picture albums, posters, photographs, printed matter, and memorabilia. The papersdocument nearly every phase of the general's career, beginning with his service as a young officer in the American Westand continuing through his tours of duty in Cuba and the Philippines, as military attaché in Tokyo and Manchuria duringthe Russo-Japanese War, command of the punitive expedition sent into Mexico after Pancho Villa in 1916, service ascommander of the American Expeditionary Forces in World War I, and presidency of the Comisión Plebisitaria de Tacna yArica in 1925-1926. Included also is material on his goodwill tours of Europe and Latin America. A noticeable gap isevident in the scarcity of papers relating to his tour of duty as chief of staff of the army, 1921-1924.
The papers are organized into fifteen series: Diaries, Notebooks, and Address Books; General Correspondence; SocialCorrespondence; Special Correspondence; Greetings from French Municipalities; Illness; Death of Pershing; Helen F.Pershing File; Subject File; Tacna-Arica File; Speeches, Statements, and Book File; Scrapbooks; Memorabilia; Addition;and Oversize.
Address books in the first series date from 1905 while a military attaché in Japan and from 1908 when Pershing wasstationed at Fort William McKinley in the Philippines. The typed diaries, organized into two sets, describe Pershing'scommand of the American Expeditionary Forces in France during World War I and his postwar service as army chief ofstaff until 1925. Set I, a ribbon copy, includes minor penciled notations and a clipping mounted into the text. Set II consistsof a carbon copy of a separately typed version extracted from the first set of the entries for the World War I period,1917-1919.
The notebooks mainly document Pershing's army career prior to 1917, with a few that overlap the World War I diaries. Thefirst notebook, from 1882, Pershing's plebe year at the United States Military Academy, is identified as his “cadet checkbook,” or account book. There are notebooks covering much of the rest of his time at West Point, 1883-1884, and 1886, theyear he graduated.
Some of Pershing's notebooks are diary-like accounts focused on particular military or diplomatic assignments. A notebookdated 1897-1898 documents his service during the Spanish-American War as commander of Company A, probably the 10thCalvary. Notebooks from 1902-1903 treat his experiences in the Philippines, including the Lake Lanao campaign. One ofthe Lake Lanao notebooks includes agreements with Moslem leaders in Arabic script. Other notebooks document his tourof duty as a military attaché in Tokyo and as an observer in the field during the Russo-Japanese War. Later ones relate tohis expedition in Mexico against Pancho Villa just prior to the American participation in World War I. In the Additionseries are more address books, notebooks and diaries, including of his wife, Helen F. Pershing, who died with three of hischildren in a fire in 1915, and personal jottings by him from 1900, 1904-1905, 1918, and 1934.
Pershing's early military career is well documented in an extensive Subject File that also treats his experiences in theSpanish-American War, the Philippines, and as military attaché in Japan and Manchuria. Of biographical significance arememoirs materials in the Speeches, Statements, and Book File series, with its background files and drafts dealing with hislife prior to 1919. The Scrapbooks series (available only on microfilm) covers his career from 1900 until his death in 1948.In the Addition are six drafts of his autobiography.
Arrangement of the PapersThe collection is arranged in fifteen series:
• Diaries, Notebooks, and Address Books, 1882-1925• General Correspondence, 1904-1948• Social Correspondence, 1919-1948• Special Correspondence, 1904-1948• Greetings from French Municipalities, 1919• Illness, 1938• Death of Pershing, 1948• Helen F. Pershing File, 1903-1915
John J. Pershing Papers 5
• Subject File, 1883-1925• Tacna-Arica File, 1925-1926• Speeches, Statements, and Book File, 1913-1944• Scrapbooks, 1900-1949• Memorabilia• Addition, 1897-1971• Oversize
John J. Pershing Papers 6
Description of SeriesContainer SeriesBOX 1-7 Diaries, Notebooks, and Address Books, 1882-1925
Notebooks, diaries, and address books. The diaries include one set of typed, single-spacedentries for 1917-1925, and a second set, extracted from the first and double-spaced incarbon, of entries covering only the World War I period, 1917-1919.
Arranged by type of material and chronologically therein.
BOX 8-219 General Correspondence, 1904-1948Letters sent and received (mainly received) and other papers.Arranged alphabetically by name of correspondent and by subject or topic.
BOX 220-277 Social Correspondence, 1919-1948
BOX 220-251 Set IMainly invitations.Alphabetically arranged by state or country of origin.
BOX 252-277 Set IIInvitations, Christmas lists, cards, and letters, and birthday cards, letters and telegrams.Arranged by type of material and therein chronologically.
BOX 278-292 Special Correspondence, 1904-1948Letters of congratulations; requests for photographs; poems, songs, and sheet music sent to
Pershing; and other topical correspondence, including files pertaining to the Philippines,1904-1914.
Arranged by subject.
BOX 293-305 Greetings from French Municipalities, 1919Copies of “Extracts of Deliberations of Municipal Councils” expressing appreciation and
gratitude to the United States and to Pershing.Arranged alphabetically by municipality.
BOX 306-311 Illness, 1938Letters received.Arranged alphabetically by name of writer.
BOX 312 Death of Pershing, 1948Condolences and press statements.Arranged by type of material.
BOX 313-314 Helen F. Pershing File, 1903-1915Diaries of Helen F. Pershing and condolence letters, and calling cards occasioned by her death
in 1915.Organized by type of material with the diaries arranged chronologically and the condolence
letters arranged alphabetically.
John J. Pershing Papers 7
BOX 315-331 Subject File, 1883-1925Memoranda, reports, invitations, and correspondence relating to a variety of subjects mainly of
a professional in nature.Arranged by subject and therein chronologically.
BOX 333-341 Tacna-Arica File, 1925-1926Reports, resolution, regulations, correspondence, memoranda, and personal journals pertaining
to the plebiscite commission presided over by Pershing.Arranged by type of material.
BOX 342-380 Speeches, Statements, and Book File, 1913-1944Speeches and background material; statements by Pershing, bound and indexed; miscellaneous
unbound statements on a variety of subjects; and production material of Pershing'spublished and unpublished memoirs, including drafts, correspondence, photographs, maps,reviews, and other material.
Arranged by type of material or title of work.
BOX 380REEL 1-10
Scrapbooks, 1900-1949
Bound scrapbooks and material prepared for binding (1900-1938) are chronologicallyarranged. Loose clippings (1938-1949) are chronologically arranged by years.Miscellaneous material and scrapbooks sent as gifts conclude the series.
Available only on ten reels of microfilm, shelf no. 19,612, where they are cited as Containers381-408. The numbering of the collection was revised after filming.
BOX 381-383 MemorabiliaCertificates, diplomas, awards, commissions, and miscellaneous items.Unarranged.
BOX 384-437 Addition, 1897-1971Correspondence between Pershing and his wife, Helen F. Warren, and other correspondence,
also diaries, drafts of Pershing's autobiography, and miscellaneous material.Also includes manuscript items removed from the Scrapbooks series after filming.
Correspondence is arranged by name of author. Other material is arranged by type.
BOX OV 1-OV 5 OversizeOversize photographs, printed matter, and miscellaneous memorabilia.Arranged and described according to the series, folder, and container from which the items
were removed.
John J. Pershing Papers 8
Container List
Container Contents
BOX 1-7 Diaries, Notebooks, and Address Books, 1882-1925Notebooks, diaries, and address books. The diaries include one set of typed, single-spaced
entries for 1917-1925, and a second set, extracted from the first and double-spaced incarbon, of entries covering only the World War I period, 1917-1919.
Arranged by type of material and chronologically therein.
BOX 1 Address books1905
Digital content available1908
Digital content availableDiaries
Set 11917, May 7-1918, Sept. 1
Digital content available1918, Sept. 2-1919, Jan. 27
Digital content available1919, Jan. 28-Apr. 3
Digital content available1919, Apr. 4-July 30
Digital content available1919 July 31-1920, July 11
Digital content available1920, July 12-1922, Aug.10
Digital content availableBOX 2 1922, Aug. 11-1925, Mar. 26
BOX 8-219 General Correspondence, 1904-1948Letters sent and received (mainly received) and other papers.Arranged alphabetically by name of correspondent and by subject or topic.
BOX 252-277 Set IIInvitations, Christmas lists, cards, and letters, and birthday cards, letters and telegrams.Arranged by type of material and therein chronologically.
BOX 252 Calling cardsInvitations
BOX 253 Lists of invitations, 1919Dinners at home, 1919-1927
BOX 282 Penn, Julius A. (classmate), correspondence, 1887-1929Old visiting cards
BOX 283 Legion of Honor award, letters of congratulation, 1918BOX 284 Requests for autographs and photographics, 1921-1939BOX 285 PoemsBOX 286 Songs and musicBOX 287 Songs and musicBOX 288 Songs and musicBOX 289 Songs and music
Greetings from women of AmericaBOX 290 Welcome home and congratulations, 1919
A-KBOX 291 L-ZBOX 292 Miscellaneous
BOX 293-305 Greetings from French Municipalities, 1919Copies of “Extracts of Deliberations of Municipal Councils” expressing appreciation and
gratitude to the United States and to Pershing.Arranged alphabetically by municipality.
Item no. 1, photographs used in book See OversizeItems nos. 2-4
BOX 356 Item nos. 5-10BOX 357 Item no. 11BOX 358 Item no. 2, reviews of bookBOX 359 Item no. 13, New York Times installments of bookBOX 360 Page proofsBOX 361 For North American Newspaper Alliance
Ribbon copyBOX 362 Maps
Rewrites (unarranged)BOX 363 Rewritten sheets
Rough draftsFor North American Newspaper Alliance
Various draftsChapters 1-10
Speeches, Statements, and Book File, 1913-1944
Container Contents
John J. Pershing Papers 22
BOX 364 Chapters 11-25BOX 365 Chapters 26-40BOX 366 Chapters 41-51BOX 367 Last draft (complete)BOX 368 Book file
Bound scrapbooks and material prepared for binding (1900-1938) are chronologicallyarranged. Loose clippings (1938-1949) are chronologically arranged by years.Miscellaneous material and scrapbooks sent as gifts conclude the series.
Available only on ten reels of microfilm, shelf no. 19,612, where they are cited as Containers381-408. The numbering of the collection was revised after filming.
Memoirs of Ferdinand FochBook by Peyton C. March“Inside Story of AEF”
REEL 10 Miscellaneous volumes sent as gifts“The Great Scrapbook,” collected by Detroit Times, 1917-1919
BOX 381-383 MemorabiliaCertificates, diplomas, awards, commissions, and miscellaneous items.Unarranged.
BOX 381 Certificates, diplomas, awards, commissions, etc. See also OversizeBOX 382 Certificates, diplomas, awards, commissions, etc. See also OversizeBOX 383 Certificates, diplomas, awards, commissions, etc. See also Oversize
BOX 384-437 Addition, 1897-1971Correspondence between Pershing and his wife, Helen F. Warren, and other correspondence,
also diaries, drafts of Pershing's autobiography, and miscellaneous material.Also includes manuscript items removed from the Scrapbooks series after filming.
Correspondence is arranged by name of author. Other material is arranged by type.
BOX 384 CorrespondenceButler, Mary E., 1908-1928
(4 folders)Manuscript notes
Egan, Martin, notes on My Experiences in the World WarBOX 385 Last drafts
(5 folders)Motion pictures
Bye, George T.Hays, Will, and John Callan O'Laughlin
Scrapbooks, 1900-1949
Container Contents
John J. Pershing Papers 24
Klein, JuliusNebraska Legal News
BOX 386 Christmas, 1916Paddock, Anne C.Paddock, Doris J.Paddock, R. B., 1905-1932
(2 folders)Patton, Anne W.Personal papers
(3 folders)BOX 387 (1 folder)
Pershing, Frank E.(2 folders)
Pershing, James F., 1907-1926(4 folders)
BOX 388 Pershing, James F., Jr.Pershing, John F.Pershing, May
1909-1926(5 folders)
BOX 389 1930-1944BOX 390 Pershing, Francis Warren (son)
1916-1925(4 folders)
BOX 391 1926-1938BOX 392 1939-1945
Estate accounts, 1923-1932BOX 393 Rescue of from fire
Phillips Exeter Academy, Exeter, N.H.Property, personalResco, MichelineRussell, Mrs. Albert W.Warren, Fred E.Warren, Mrs. Francis E.
1917-1932(2 folders)
BOX 394 1906-1929(7 folders)
Wilson, Claude S.BOX 395 Diaries, notebooks, and address books
Address book and wedding gift inventory, 1905Digital content available
DiariesPershing, Helen F., 1906
Digital content availablePershing, John J., 1904-1905
Warren, Helen Smith (mother in law), undatedDigital content available
NotebooksPershing, Helen F., 1905
1 of 2Digital content available
BOX 396 2 of 2Digital content available
Pershing, John J.1900
Digital content available1905 (1 of 2)
Digital content available1905 (2 of 2)
Digital content availablecirca 1905 (1 of 2)
Digital content availablecirca 1905 (2 of 2)
Digital content availablecirca 1918
Digital content availableBOX 397 1934
Digital content availableUndated
Digital content availableBOX 398-422 Family papers
Correspondence with wife, Helen F. Pershing, and letters between family members;newspaper clippings concerning Pershing's death and other matters; and miscellaneousmaterial
Arranged and described according to the series, folder, and container from which the itemswere removed.
BOX OV 1 Speech, Statement, and Book FileMy Experiences in the World War
Item no. 1, photographs used in book (Container 355)BOX OV 2 Memorabilia
Certificates, diplomas, awards, commissions, etc. (Container 381)BOX OV 3 Certificates, diplomas, awards, commissions, etc. (Container 382)BOX OV 4 Certificates, diplomas, awards, commissions, etc. (Container 383)BOX OV 5 Addition